The first cabin in Lexington was built in 1775 by a party of hunters helping William McConnell establish a claim. It was named after Lexington, Massachusetts, where the first battle of the Revolutionary War had just taken place. Not until 1779, however, did the first settlers, led by Col. Robert Patterson, arrive. They built a stockade, and in the spring of 1781 laid out Main Street. They cleared and planted land, and in 1781 elected their first Board of Trustees. The first meeting of the Trustees took place on Mar. 26, 1781.
From the description of Lexington, Ky. Board of Trustees records, 1780-1815. (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 13604705